The mayor of a New Jersey town has spoken of his shock and grief at the death of three young children in a house fire on Friday morning.

Mayor Brian Stack of Union City made the comments as it was revealed a third child has now died following the fire that earlier claimed the lives of two youngsters and injured several other occupants and firefighters.

Officials - Friday - Morning - Fire - Home

Officials said earlier that Friday morning's fire at a three-story home killed a two-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.

The Hudson County prosecutor's office said Friday night that a critically injured seven-year-old boy had died.

Children - Cousins - Mailyn - Wood - Jason

The two- and five-year-old children were cousins identified as Mailyn Wood, 5, and Jason Gonzalez, 2.

Prosecutor Esther Suarez says two other children and a woman are in critical condition. A man is listed in stable condition.

Blaze - Am - Responders - Victims - Home

The blaze was reported shortly before 9 a.m. and first responders found that there were victims trapped in the three-story home.